Means for breaking the four scored corners of collapsible paper boxes



G. SEH-ERT 2,273,419

y MEANS FOR BREAKING THE FOUR SCORED CORNERS OF COLLAPSIBLE PAPR BOXES Feb, 17, 1942.

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ATTORNEY.

Feb.` 17, 1942.

G. SEIFERT MEANS FOR BREAKING THE FOUR bCORED CORNERS OF COLLAPSIBLE PAPER BOXES Filed Dec. e, 1939 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR M ATTORNEY.

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MEANS FOR BREAKING THE FOUR SCOREDl CORNERS OF COLLAPSIBLE PAPER BOXES jlo A TTORNEY.

G. SEIFERT vFeb. 17, 1942.

MEANS FOR BREAKNG THE FOUR SCORED CORNERS OF' COLLAPSIBLE PAPER BOXES Fild Deo.

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v- MEANS FOR BREAKING THE FOUR SCORED GORNERS OF COLLAPSIBLE PAPER BOXES 5 sheets-sheet 5 Filedy Deo. e, 1959 .NNN NNN. WNN

INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR BREAKING THE FOUR SCORED CORNERS OF COLLAPSIBLEPAPER BOXES George Seifert, Beverly Hills Township, Los Angeles County, Calif.

Application December 6, 1939, Serial No. 307,855

(Cl. S93- 49) i 11 Claims.

This invention relates to paper box score-l lbreaking machinery.

Paper boxes, which are ordinarily folded and collapsed by machinery for transportation and storage, when manually uncollapsed and set up by operatives into position for use, frequently fold outwardly at their corners, which causes considerable inconvenience and delay in folding said corners inwardly properly before said boxes Aare suitable for use.

The general object of this invention is to prof vide a machine for breaking the corner scores of I such paper boxes before they are folded and col- .lapsed by othersuitable machinery, so that the four corners of said boxes will always fold inwardly properly, when said boxes are uncollapsed and set up by operatives into position for use.

With the above and other objects in view the Vinvention consists in the nnovel and useful provision, formation, construction, association, and

relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in a certain embodiment in the annexed drawings forming a part of this specication, in which the invention is described generally and more particularly pointed out in.;

the claims.

In the drawings,

. Fig. 1 isa side elevation of a. portion of the gear side of my invention extending from the feed end ofthe machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation `of the portion of the gear side of my invention extending to the folding end of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the portion of my invention shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the portion of my invention shown in Fig. `2.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the box folding mechanism taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4, shown l l line 9-,9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section taken `on line Ill- IIJ ofFig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section taken yon line II-II of Fig.2. 1 f

remaining f Fig. 12 is an end view of the clutch and sprocket for the feed chain.v

Fig. 13 is atransverse vertical section taken on line I3-I3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a blank from which the boxis made. I

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the first fold. i i

Fig. 16 is an end viewA of Fig. 15.`

Fig. 17 is a plan view of a box blank showing the first and second folds.

Fig. 18 is an end view of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a plan view` of a box blank as it leaves the machine.

Fig.` 20 is a transverse Ivertical section taken on line 2li- 20 of Fig. 3, illustrating the securing means for the adjustable edge guide bars of the feeding means for the box blanks.

Fig. 21 is a transverse vertical sectiontaken on line 2I-2l of Fig. 4.

Fig. 22 is a .transverse vertical section taken on line 22-22 of- Fig. 5. I

yReferring more particularly to the drawings, in which corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters in all of the iigures, I designates a frame, upon which the vari-` a box blank showing `ous mechanisms and` parts of my invention are mounted, which frame includes a' pair of spaced bars 3 connecting the lower portions of said side `framemer'nbers andthe bar 4 androds 5 connecting the upper portions of said side frame members. i

On the frame I are mounted a feeding mechanism 8,'for feeding the paper boxes, and a folding means 9 for preliminarily folding the paper 404 boxes in the manner' and for the purpose hereinafter more `fully described.

The feeding mechanism 8 includes generally a `feed table III; a rotary feed roller I I; a pair of vfeed chains I2, and sprockets I3 and I4 and lpivoted to the webs 20 of the feed table III and v chains I2.

respectively inthe side frame members 2.V

engage ratchets 22 on the adjacent ends of the frame side members 2, for holding the feed table at different inclinations to which it may be adjusted on its pivot I9, extending downwardly in a forward direction to the rear ends of the feed The rotary feed roller II is secured on a shaft 23 extending transversely of the machine with its ends journaled in bearings 24 upstanding from the side members 2 of the frame I, the feed roller II being so positioned on the shaft 23 that the lower portion of its periphery lies adjacent the lower forward end of the feed table I and immediately above and between the box-receiving ends of the chains I2 to enable the feeding wheel II to feed the unfolded paper boxes 25 from the feed table I3 onto the adjacent box-receiving ends of said feed chains I2, there being a rubber friction plate 25 secured on the periphery of the feed roller i I for engaging the uppermost paper boxes 25 on the feed table IB and feeding said boxes successively, each revolution of said feed roller from said feed table to the box receiving ends of the chains I2, as aforesaid. The sprockets I3 are secured in suitably spaced relation on a shaft 21, which extends transversely of the frame I directly below the feeding wheel shaft 23, and said shaft 2'I is journaled at its ends The sprockets I4 are secured in the same spaced relation as the sprockets I3 on a shaft 23, which extends transversely of the frame I and is journaled at its ends respectively in the side frame members 2. The chains I2 are spaced by the sprockets I3 and I4 in such relation as to support the paper boxes 25 for feeding the same from the feed table Ill to the box-folding mechanism. The tightening idlers I5 are journaled on the lower ends of a pair of arms 29, the upper ends of which arms are turnably mounted on a shaft 3B which extends transversely of the frame lI and is secured at its ends in the side frame members 2, the idlers I5 engaging the lower reaches of the chains I2, under the weight of said idlers and arms 29, for drawing the upper reaches of said chains taut into a horizontal position for feeding the boxes 25. On the chains I2 are secured, in suitably spaced relation, a plurality of pins 3I for engaging the rear edges of.the,paper boxes for feeding said boxes from the feed table Iii to the folding mechanism 9. The guide plates I5 are mounted at the outer sides of chainsy I2, respectively, near their ends on the upper ends of vertical supporting arms 32 which arms are formed on their lower ends i with sleeves 32 slidably fitted on rods 33 extending transversely of theframe I and secured at their ends in the sidemembers 2 of said frame.

Set vscrews 35 are threaded in the sleeves 32' of arms 32 for engaging the rods 33 for securing said arms in different positions along said rods,

Y whereby the guide plates I6 are secured in their lproper laterally adjusted positions with relation to the chains I2, with the inner edges of said ,plates spacedA slightly outwardly of said chains so that said chains may travel freely along said edges of said guide plates without engaging said edges. The edge guide bars I'I are mounted for slots 31 in said guide plates and through said guide. bars, and whichnuts are threaded on the Yupper ends of said bolts for engagement with the upper side of said guide bars for drawing the heads 33 of said clamp bolts 35 against the lower side of said guide plates I6, whereby said guide bars I I are secured in laterally adjusted positions for guiding paper boxes 25 of different widths. The guide bars Il are formed with inwardly extending guide flanges 39 under which the edges of the boxes 25 pass when fed by the chains I2 whereby said edges of said boxes are prevented from swinging upwardly out of feeding position. The guide rods I8 extend above and near the outer sides of the chains I2 and are formed at their rear ends with upwardly extending members lil and at their forward ends with upwardly extending members 4I, which members and il extend through sleeves 42 and 43 respectively, the sleeves 42 being secured on a rod M extending transversely of the frame I and secured at its ends in the frame side members 2, and the sleeves 43 being secured on the frame connecting bar 4, and said members 40 and GI are adjustably secured in said sleeves 42 and 63, respectively, by set screws 65 and 46 threaded in said sleeves, respectively, whereby the guide rods i8 may be adjusted as to height with relation to the chains I2, so that the boxes 25 fed by said chains will pass under said guide bars and be prevented by said guide bars from buckling upwardly and escaping the pins 33 on the chains I2.

The folding means 5 includes a side folding mechanism 53 andan end folding mechanism 5I Said side folding mechanism includes a pair of lower endless Vconveyor belts 52, a pair of upper endless conveyor belts 53, a pair of lower belt guides 5d, a pair of upper belt guides 55, a pair of side folding bars 5B and a pair of top folding rods 57,. Each of the belts 52 extends over .pulleys 58 and 59 secured on shafts 60 and 5I, respectively, which shafts extend transversely of the frame I and are journaled at their ends in the frame side members 2. The pulleys 5S and 55 are secured short distances apart on their shafts 60 and 6I, respectively, whereby the belts 52 are spacedl suciently close together to extend between the side folding bars 56, which are sp-aced apart the width of the folded boxes 25. Each of the belts 53 extends over pulleys 52 and vsecured on shafts 64 and 65 respectively, which shafts extend transversely of the frame I and are journaled at their ends in the frame side members 2 above the shafts 6i! and QI respectively. The pulleys 62 and 63 are secured short distances apart on their shafts 65 and 65, respectively, whereby the belt-s 53 are spaced sufficiently close together to extend between the side folding bars 55. The upper reaches of the belts 52 extend over and along the upper edges of the guide bars 54, which are mounted on the upper ends of legs 68, the lower ends 6'! of which are slidably fitted on rods 68 extending transversely of the frame I and secured at their ends in the side frame members 2. Set screws 39 are threaded in the lower ends 6l of the legs 66 for engaging the rods 63 for securing said legs and the guide bars 55 in the positions to which they are adjusted with said guide bars resting directly under the upper reaches of the belts 52 respectively. The lower reaches of the belts 53 extend over and along the lower edges of the guide bars 55, respectively, which are mounted on the frame I by means of standards 'IIJ supported on the side frame members 2, a shaft II secured at its ends in the upper ends of said standards and extending transversely of the frame I, horizontal arms l2 se- 2,273,419 cured on said shaft 1|, and vertical arms 13 upstanding from said guide bars 55 and connected at their upper ends to the ends of said horizontal arms 12. A pair of bell-crank levers 14 are mounted on the shaft 1| with rollers 15 and 16 journaled on the ends,y respectively, of each of said bell-crank levers, and said bellcrank levers are positioned on said shaft 1| so that the belts 53 extend under the rollers 15 respectively and over the rollers 16 respectively.

'Set screws 11 are threaded in the hubs of the bell-crank levers 14 to be tightened against the shaft 1| for securing said bell-crank levers in adjusted position with their rollers and 16 engaging opposite sides of the belt 53 and taking up the stretch in said belt. 'Ihe side folding bars 56 are mounted on the upper ends of legs 18, which are formed at their lower ends with sleeves 19 slidably tted on the rods 68, and set screws 80 are threaded in said sleeve to be tightened against said rods for securing said side folding bars in their proper laterally .adjusted position. The side folding bars 56 are formed with inclined cam folding surfaces 8| extending forwardly from the rear ends of said bars, which surfaces are engaged by the sides of the boxes 25, when fed forwardly between said bars by the belts 52 and 53, whereby the sides of the boxes are folded upwardly. The top folding rods 51 extend from the remote ends of the chains I2 forwardly over the side folding bars 56 and through the end folding mechanism 5|, and said rods are formed with upstanding extensions 82 and 83, the extensions 82 extending through sleeves 84 secured on the transverse connecting bar 1, and the extensions 83 extending through sleeves 85 secured on a transverse connecting bar 86, which extends transversely of the frame I and is secured at its ends to the side frame ymembers 2, there being set screws 81 and 88 threaded in the sleeves 84 and 85 respectively which are tightened against said extensions 82 and 83-respectively for securing the top folding rods 51 adjusted to the proper elevation, with the rear ends of said rods slightly above the remote ends of the chains |2 and said rods extending upwardly forwardly at 89 at an inclina- "tion over the inclined cam folding surfaces 8| `of the side folding bars 56 and forwardly horizontally at 90 directly over the upper horizontal top folding surfaces 9| of said side folding bars, so that the paper box blank will pass from the remote ends of the chains |2 under the rear ends of said top folding rods 51 and between the belts 52 and 53 forwardly between the inclined folding surfaces 8| and the inclined portions 89 of said rods 51 and then forwardly between said rods and the horizontal top surfaces 9| of said side folding bars.

The end folding mechanism 5| for the boxes includes generally an endless conveyor chain 92, a pair of side guide and holding rods 93, the forward portions of the top folding rods 51, an end forming block 94, a pair of `end folders 95 and 96, a pair of rack bars 91 and 98 for operating said folding block and said end folders respectively, a pair of pinions 99 and |00 for engaging a pair of endless racks |0| and |02 respectively in rack bar 91, for actuating said rack bar, a pair of pinions |03 and |04 for engaging a pair of endless racks |05 and |06 respectively in rack bar 98, for actuating said rack bar, and

a pair of cams |01 and |08 for swinging the Vend folders 95 and 98 respectively into folding irl The conveyor chain 92 extends over four sprockets |09, ||0, and `||2, on shafts ||3, 4, 5 and ||6 respectively, which shafts extend transversely fof the frame and are journaled at their ends in the side frame members 2. 'The sprocket shaft ||3 is located immediately forwardly of the shaft 6|, on which are secured the pulleys 59 foru'the belts l52, and said sprocket shaft, and sprocket shaft ||4 are so positioned that the upper reach of thev chain 92 extends horizontally in alignment with and forwardly of the upper reach of the belt 52 and lower reach of belt 53, so that the boxes 25 with their sides folded will pass from between the forward ends of said reaches of said belts 52 and 53 onto the rear end of said upper reach of chain 92. Lugs ||1 are secured on the outer edge of the chain 92 in suitablespaced relation to engage the rear edge 4of, the boxes successively on said chain, so that said boxes will be properly fed by said chain through the end folding mechanism 5|. The

hsprocket shafts 5 and ||6 are located below the sprocket shafts ||4 and ||3 respectively.

The side guide and holding rods 93 extend forwardly horizontally and parallel from the upper inner-corners of the side folding bars 56 through the end folding mechanism 5| to'the inner ends of a pair of bars ||8 extending inwardly from the side frame members 2 respectively, the rear ends of said guide and holding rods 93 being secured to the forward ends of said side folding bars 56, respectively, and the forward ends of said rods being secured to the inner ends of said bars ||8, respectively, at the upper surface of said bars. i

Apair of cleats ||9 are secured to the upper side of the end forming block 94 by screws |20 and said cleatsextend upwardly between a pair of flanges |2| depending from the lower edge of ythe upper `rack bar 91, to which flanges said `on said shaft, and a cam-engaging arm |26 secured on one end of said shaft for engaging the cam |01, said shaft |24 being journaled in bearings |21 on the outer ends of arms |28 outstanding from the sides, respectively, of a block |29,

which is secured on the upper edge of the rack bar 98 near the rear end of said rack bar, between a pair of flanges upstanding from said upper edge of said rack bar, by bolts |3| extending through said flanges and the lower portion of said block. The cam |01 is supported on a stud |32 extending inwardly from one of the side frame members 2. In the upper face of the block |29 is provided a groove |33 to receive the chain 92 to enable the lower rack bar 98 to be moved upwardly far enough to bring the upper face of said block |29 up adjacent the lower face of the end folding form block 94, when the upper rack bar 91 is moved down to its lowermost position with said lower face of said form block adjacent the `upper edge of the chain 92.

The endl folder 96 includes a rock shaft |34, a pair of `forward end folding members secured` on `said shaft, and `a cam-engaging arm -|36 secured on one endof said shaft forengaging f-the cam |08 said. shaft |'34 being journaled in bearings |31 on the outer ends'of a'pair of arms |38 outstanding from the sides, respectively, of a block secured in the upper edge of the rack bar 98, forwardly of the block |29, between the flanges |30, by bolts |40 extending through said flanges and the lower portion of said block |99. The flanges |30 are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced bolt holes |4| to receive the .bolts |40 for securing the block |39 in different positions along the upper edge of the rack bar 98 for adjustment of the forward en d folder-96 to the forward end of the end-folding form block 94. The block |39 is provided with a groove |42 in its upper face to receive the chain 92 to enable the lower rack bar 98 to be moved upwardly far enough to bring said upper face of said block |99 up adjacent the lower face of the end folding form block 94, when the upper rack bar 91 is moved down to its lowermost Aposition with said lower face of said form block adjacent the upper edge of the chain 92. A pair of adjustable box gauges 43, each comprising a gauge plate |44 formed with a base plate |45 provided with a slot |46, are adjustably mounted on the sides respectively of the block |39, by meansY of screws |41, which extend through the slots |46 in the base plates |45 into threaded openings |48 in the sides respectively of said block |35, and secure said base plates |45 against the sides respectively of said block |99, with the upper ends of said gauge plates extending above the chain 92 at the sides respectively of said chain for engaging the forward edge of each box 25, while the rear edge of said box is engaged by one of the lugs H1 on said chain, whereby the box blanks 25 are positioned centrally under the end-folding form block 94, so that the ends of the box may be accurately folded upwardly by the end folders 95 and 96. The block |39 is provided in its sides with a .number of said threaded openings |48, any two of which in each side of said block may be selected to receive the screws |41 for securing the box gauges |43 in different positions along the sidesv of said block, whereby the gauges may be adjusted to a greater extent, than by means of the slots |46, for centering box blanks 25 of boxes of different sizes as to length. The cam |08 is secured on the inner end of a threaded stud |49, the outer end of which extends through a horizontal lslot |50 in one of the side frame members 2 and said stud is secured in said frame member at different positions in said slot by a pair of nuts |`5| and, |52, threaded on said studs, and a pair of washers |53 and |54 on said stud, whichnuts clamp said washers respectively against the inner side and outer side of said frame member, whereby the cam |08 is adjustably secured in different positions to engage and operate the forward end folder -96 for boxes of different lengths.

The endless racks |0| and |02 are each formed with two straight sides extending longitudinally of the rack bar 91, and said rack bar is formed with two pinion guides |55 and |56 extending Within vsaid endless racks |0| and |02, respectively, around which guides roll the hubs |51 and |58 of the pinions 99 and |00 respectively, as said pinions are rotated, whereby said pinions are guided in mesh with said racks respectively. The pinions 99 and |00 are secured on shafts |59 and |60, respectively, which shafts are journaled in bearings |6| and |62, respectively, extending inwardly from one of the side frame members 2.

The endlessracks |05 and |06 areeach formed with straightsides extending longitudinally of the rack bar 9B, and said rack bar is formed with two pinion guides |63 and |64 extending within said endless racks |05 and |06 respectively, around which guides roll the hubs |65 and |66 of the pinions |03 and |04, respectively, as said pinions are rotated, whereby said pinions are guided in mesh with said racks, respectively. The' pinions |03 and |04 are secured on shafts |61 and |08, respectively, which shafts are journaled in bearings |69 and |10, respectively, extending inwardly frorn one of the side frame members 2.

The sprockets |09, HI and H2 are secured fast on the shafts H3, H5 and H6, respectively, while the sprockets I I0 is yieldingly connected to the'shaft i4 by means of a spring clutch |1|, so that said sprockets and the chain 92 may travel at a slower speed than the drive shaft |4 during the end folding operation of the box blanks 25, in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter more fully described. The spring clutch |1| comprises a clutch member |12 keyed on the drive shaft H4 bya key |13, a coil spring |14, a lug |15 on said clutch member and a lug |16 on the sprocket H0. The spring |14 is coiled within a socket |11 in the clutch member |12 around an extension |18 of the hub |19 of the sprocket H0, and one end of said spring |14 is secured in said clutch member |12, while the other end |8| of said spring is secured in said sprocket H0 which is turnable on the shaft I4. A collar |82 is adjustably secured on the shaft H4 by a set screw |99 for engaging the outer end of the hub |19 of the'sprocket H0 for properly positioning said sprocket on the shaft i4 adjacent the socket zend' of the clutch member |12.

`'Ihedriving means |85 of my invention will now be described. On the outer side of one of 'the side frame members 2 a drive shaft |86 is journaled in bearings |01 secured on said Side frame member, and on said drive shaft are secured a drive pulley |80 and bevel gears |89, |00, |9| and |02, which bevel gears mesh, respectively, with bevel gears |93, |94, and |96 secured, respectively, on stud shafts |91, |98, |99 and 200 journaled on said side frame member. On the stud shaft |91 is also secured a pinion 20| in mesh with an idler pinion 202 journaled on said side frame member 2, which idler pinion meshes with an idler 203 loose on the sprocket shaft 21, and said idler 203 meshes with a gear 204 secured on the feed roller shaft 23. On the stud shaft |98 is secured a pinion 205 in mesh with an idler pinion 200 journaled on side frame member 2, which idler pinion meshes with another idler pinion 201 also journaled on said side frame member, and said idler pinion 201 meshes with a pinion 208 and a gear 209 secured, respectively, on the sprocket shaft 28 and the belt pulley shaft 60, and said gear 209 meshes with a gear 2|0 secured on lthe belt pulley shaft 64.

On the stud shaft |99 is secured a pinion 2H in 2|9 journaled on said side frame member 2, and said idler 2|9 in turn meshes with an idler gear 220 journaled on said side frame member, which idler gear mesheswith two pinions 22| and 222 secured on the outer ends of the pinion shafts |61 and |68 respectively, and said idler gear also meshes with an idler gear 2 23 journaled on said side frame member, which idler gear 223 in turn meshes with two pinions 224 and 225 secured on the outer ends ofthe pinionshafts |59 and |60, respectively. On the stud shaft 200 is secured a pinion 226 in mesh with an idler 221 journaled in said side frame member 2, which idler in turn meshes with a gear 228 secured on .the sprocket shaft ||4.

The operation, uses and advantages of my Vinvention are as follows:

A number of box blanks 25 are stacked upon the feed table with the forward end 229 of the uppermost blank extending under the feed roller and with the remaining blanks positioned progressively downward at short distances rearwardly of each otheras shown in Fig. 3.

, Power is applied through a belt (not shown) to the pulley |88 and said pulley, drive shaft |86 and bevel pinions |89, |90, |9| and |92 are rotated. The bevel pinion |93, stud shaft |91 and pinion are rotated by said bevel pinion |89; the idler 202 is rotated by said pinion 20|;

the idler 203 is rotated by said idler 202; and

the gear 204, feed-roller shaft 23 and feed roller I are rotated by said idler 203. The bevel pinion |94, stud shaft |98 and pinion 205 are rotated by the bevel gear |90; the idler 206 is rotated by said pinion 205; the idlerv 201 is rotated by said idler 206; and the pinion 208, sprocket shaft 28 and sprockets |4 are rotated by the idler 201, which sprockets drive the conveyor chains so that the upper reaches of said chains travel forwardly toward the folding mechanism 9, or to the right, as shown in Fig. 1.

As the feed roller is rotated the rubber friction plate 26 on the periphery of said roller engages the forward end member 229 of the uppermost box blank and feeds said blank forwardly onto the upper reaches of the chains |2, while the next box blank 25 slides downwardly and forwardly a short distance until its forward end member 229 rests under the feed roller in position to be engaged by said friction plate 26 on the next revolution of said feed roller. The box blank 25, fed on the chains I2, as aforesaid, is engaged at the rear edge of its rear end member 230vby two pins on said chains, respectively, and said blank is thereby fed forwardly by said chains, between the guide bars I1 under the guide flanges 39 of said bars and under the guide rods I8, until said blank is fed between the endless belts 52 and 53 of the side-folding mechanism 50. Said endless belts 52 and 53 are driven from the drive shaft |86 through the medium of bevel pinions |90 and |94, pinion 205, idlers 206 and 201, intermeshing gears 209 and 2|0 respectively, shafts 60 and 64 respectively and pulleys 5,8 and 62 respectively, and said endless belts 52 and. 53 are also driven from the drive shaft |86 through the medium of bevel pinions |9| and |95, pinion 2| I, idler 2|2, idler 2|3, gears 2|6 and gear 2|1 respectively, shafts 6| and 65, respectively, and pulleys 59 and 63 respectively, so that the upper reach of belt 52 and the lower reach of belt 53 travel forwardly. Said box blank 25, fed by chains I2, between the adjacent reaches of the belts 52 and 53 is gripped by said belts between their adjacent reaches and fed forwardly between the side foldingv bars 56 and the inner side flap bending rods 51 and the side walls 23| of said box blank are folded upwardly vertically by their engagement with the camfolding surfaces 8| of said side folding bars A56, While the top members 232 of said box blanks are folded outwardly horizontally by the` top folding rods 51 over the upper inner edges 233 of said side folding bars 56 respectively, as illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The folded conditionof the box blank 25 as above described is further illustrated in Figs. l5 and 16.` 1

`Said box blank 25 with their side walls and top members folded, as above described, are fed further forwardly by the belts 52 and 53,0nto the rear end of the upper reach of the chain 92 of the end folding mechanism 5|. `Said -chain 92 is driven by the drive shaft |86, through the medium of bevel pinions |92 and |96, pinion 226, idler 221, gear 228, shaft ||4 and sprocket ||0, so that the upper reach of said chain 92 travels forwardly, or to the right, as shown in Fig. 2. One of the lugs I1 on said chain 92 engages the rear edge of the rear end wall 230 of the box blank 25 fed onto the rear end of the upper reach of said chain and said box b-lank is thereby fed forwardly by said chain between the blocks |29 and |39 and the form block 94, until the forward edge of the forward end wall 229 of said blank engages the gauge plate |44 of the gauge |43, whereby said box blank is centered l with relation to said form block 94 and the end benders 95 and 96 for folding the end walls 229 and 230 of said box blank during which operation the lower rack bar 98 and blocks |29 and l|39 have been moved upwardly, by the engagement of the pinions |65'and |66 with the right ends of the racks |05 and |06, respectively, until the upper faces of said blocks have engaged the lower side of said box blank 25 and the bottoms of the grooves |42 in the upper faces of said blocks engage the lower side of the upper reach of chain 92, and the upper rack bar 91 and form block 94 have been moved downwardly, by the engagement of the pinions |51 and |58 with the right ends of the racks |0| and |02, respectively, until the lower face of the form block 94 have engaged the upper side of said box blank and the lower side of said box blank engages the upper side of said chain 92, (Fig. 5) the pinions |65 and |66 being rotated from the drive shaft |86, through the medium of the bevel pinions |9| and |95, pinion 2|l, idlers 2|2, 2|4, 2|8 and 2|9, gear 220, pinions 22| and 222 and pinion shafts |61 and |68, respectively, and the pinions |51 and |58 being also driven by the drive shaft |86 through the medium of said bevel pinions |9| and |95, pinion 2|I, idlers, 2|2, 2|4, 2|8 and 2|9 and gear 220, and through the gear 223, pinions 224 and 225 and pinion shafts |59 and |60, respectively. With the box blank 25 and the upper reach of chain 92 gripped between the blocks |29 and |39 and the block 94, said box blank and said chain are moved together forwardly by the rack bars 91 and 98, which rack bars are moved forwardly at a slower speed than the chain drive rack bar 98, said slower forward movement of the chain 92 being permitted by the yielding and Winding of the spring |14 of the spring clutch |1|, so that the clutch member |12, which is keyed on the sprocket shaft ||4 may run ahead of the sprocket for a short distance. As the gripped box blank 25 is moved forwardly, as aforesaid, the cam arms |26 and |36 of the end folders95fand 96, respectively, engage the cams |01 and |08, respectively, and actuate said end folders, so that their folding members |25 and |35 are swung upwardly in engagement with end walls 230 and 229, respectively, of the box blank 25, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, until said end walls are folded vertically against the adjacent rear and forward ends of the form block 94, and the rear corner members 234 and the forward corner members 235 of said box blank are folded outwardly upon themselves, as illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18, thus completely preliminarily folding the box blank in the reverse direction to which it is folded into its nal form as a box, whereupon the cam arms |26 and |36 of the end folders 95 and 96 escape the cams |01 and |08 and said end folders swing down to their normal positions, swinging their folding members |25 and |35 down and away from the folded end walls 230 and 229 of the box 25, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The pinions 99 and |00 have now reached the rear ends of the upper reaches of the racks |0| and |02, respectively, and begin to travel downwardly around the rear arcuate ends of said racks, while the pinions |03 and |04 have reached the rear ends of the lower reaches of the racks |05 and |06, respectively, and begin to travel upwardly around the rear arcuate ends of said racks, whereupon the rack bar 91 and form block 94 are moved upwardly until said form block is lifted above the preliminary folded box form 25, while the rack bar 98, blocks |29 and |39 and the gauge member |44 are moved downwardly below said box blank and the chain 92, releasing said chain, so that the clutch spring |14 will wind and rotate the sprocket ||0 forwardly, at a faster speedl than the speed of the clutch member |12, until the lug |16 on said sprocket engages the lug |15 on said clutch member, whereupon the sprocket ||0 is rotated and the chain 92 moved forwardly by the clutch member |12, through the clutch spring |14, at the same rate of speed as said clutch member and sprocket shaft 1|, and said preliminary folded box is again engaged at its rear end by said lug ||1, which engages the folded rear end wall 230 of said box, and said box is conveyed forwardly by the chain 92 and said lug over the sprocket ||0, and is delivered onto the table at the forward end of the machine, whereupon the folded parts of said box blank unfold downwardly until said parts and the bottom of the box blank are again flat, as shown in Fig. 19, but with the corner scores of the box blank broken, so that said blank may be more easily folded for use by operatives, in the reverse direction to which said parts of the box were preliminarily folded by the machine.

As the folded box blank 25 is moved forwardly by the chain 92 and its lug H1, as aforesaid, the pinions 99 and |00 have traveled downwardly around the rear arcuate ends of the racks |0| and |02, respectively, and said pinions then travel forwardly along the lower reaches of vsaid racks, until the rack bar 91 is moved rearwardly to its initial uppermost position, while the pinions |03 and |04 have traveled upwardly around the rear arcuate ends of the racks |05 and |06, respectively, and said pinions then travel forwardly along the upper'reaches of said racks,

until the rack bar 98 is moved rearwardly to its initial lowermost position, at which time the succeeding box blank 25 has been fed by the machine from the feed table l0, between the form block 94 and the blocks |29 and |39 into position yto be folded in the same manner as the preceding folded box blank was fed between said blocks to be folded, thus completing a cycle of operations of the machine, which is repeated, so that the box blanks 25, stacked on the feed table I0, are successively fed, folded and delivered, as above described.

Iclaim: f

1. A corner breaking machine as disclosed comprising means for bending the sides of the box blanks, and means for folding the ends of the box blanks and for folding the uncut corner areas of the box blanks outwardly on their diagonal scores.

2. A box-folding machine as disclosed comprising means for folding the sides of the boxes, means for feeding the box blanks to said sidefolding means, means for folding the ends of the box blanks and for folding the uncut corner areas of said box blanks outwardly on their diagonal scores, and means for feeding said box blanks from said side-folding means to said end-andcorner-folding means.

3. A box-folding machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the sides, ends and uncut corner areas of the box blanks are folded in the reverse direction to which they are finally folded to form the boxes.

4. A box-folding machine as claimed in claim 2 in which the sides, ends and uncut corner areas of the box blanks are folded in the reverse direction to which they are finally folded to form the boxes.

5. In a box-folding machine as disclosed, a pair of rack bars arranged one above the other, continuous racks in said rack bars, pinions in mesh with said racks, blocks on the upper edge of said lower rack bar, a block on the lower edge of said upper rack bar, means for feeding the box blanks with their sides folded between the blocks on said lower rack bar and the block on said upper rack bar, so that each box blank will be gripped between said blocks when said rack bars are moved toward each other by their racks and pinions, end-and-corner folders, and means for operating said end-and-corner folders for folding the ends and corners of each box blank when gripped between the blocks on said lower rack bar and the block on said upper rack bar.

6. In a machine as disclosed, means for breaking outwardly on their diagonal scores the scored uncut corner areas of paper box blanks for folding said blanks into boxes.

'1. In a machine as disclosed, means for breaking outwardly on their diagonal scores the scored uncut corner areas of paper box blanks in reverse direction prior to folding said blanks in the obverse direction to form boxes.

8. In a machine as disclosed, means for break ing outwardly on their diagonal scores the scored uncut corner areas of the blanks of collapsible paper boxes, in reverse direction, before said blanks are folded into boxes and said boxes are collapsed.

9. The method of causing the uncut corner areas of collapsible set-up boxes to fold inwardly when said boxes are collapsed and set up, which consists in breaking outwardly on their diagonal Vscores the scored uncut corner areas of the box blanks before said blanks are folded into boxes.y

10. The method of causing the uncut corner areas of collapsible set-up boxes to fold inwardly when said boxes are collapsed and set up, which consists in breaking outwardly on their diagonal scores the scored uncut corner areas of the box blanks in the reverse direction before said blanks are folded in the obverse direction into boxes. i 11. In a machine as disclosed, means for breaking outwardly on their diagonal scores the scored uncut corner areas of the blanks of collapsible paper boxes before said blanks are folded into boxes and said boxes are collapsed.

GEORGE SEIFERT. 

